Eugene Galat

MY condolences to the Galat family.  @Stan Galat, I just realized that our fathers are both Eugene's.   They are both at peace now.  

My condolences Stan to you and yours... Sad day. 

Sorry for your loss, Stan.

So Sorry Stan, I just hope it was quick and painless for him.

So sorry for your loss Stan! Your father is at peace and in a better place.

Sorry to hear this Stan. Hang in there.

My thoughts are with you and your's.....

Stan,

I am so sorry for your lost. To lose any parent is heartbreaking and the sadness that follows is something that only the passing of time might enable us to cope with.

May your family get through this moment of anguish, as I know you will, thankful for the wisdom, knowledge and grace such a wonderful, loving father and mentor bestowed upon you during his life on earth. . . never to be forgotten. 

Prayers and thought for you and your family!

I am deeply saddened by the news of your father passing. May his soul Rest In Peace and his legacy live on through your integrity and deeds. @Stan Galat

Wow. I'm really humbled.

We're in the midst of arrangements (which dad would think was much adieu about "nothing"), but Dad cut an enormous swath through this world and left nothing but good things in his wake.

He was a builder and a doer-- physically, mentally, and emotionally one of the strongest men I have ever (or will ever) meet. We were exceptionally close. I grew up working beside, and comparing myself to him. In my adulthood looked to him for support, advise, and no small amount of help. I chose to live in the small town I was raised in to be near him. He provided the loan when I went into business. He built a home for me, and remodeled another. He officiated my kids' weddings. There was nothing too big for him to tackle to help anybody who found themselves in need.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 while Jeanie and I were in Europe celebrating our 30th anniversary. He waited until we got home to let me know, as he didn't want to ruin our vacation. He had a giant surgery in October 2015 (a Whipple. Look it up-- it's pretty gruesome), and was sent home to die. He was ready, but the rest of us were not... and so he started on chemotherapy in the winter of 2015/2016. He was on chemo pretty much continually ever since.

I built another house while dad was on chemo, and he did the plumbing. When I finished my house, I bought a little ranch next door. Dad and I completely remodeled it (stripped to the studs, walls moved, new plumbing and wiring, etc.) for Mom to live in after Dad was gone. We were in the process of laying the flooring when Dad's stomach stopped allowing anything to move through. The cancer was back, and had closed off his pyloric valve.

Dad determined he was not going back on chemo, and wouldn't get a feeding tube. We took him to a hospice house and he died 2 days later. He was 76.

The man was a force of nature. I'm still trying to get my head around what life will be like without him. We bury him tomorrow, and will have a memorial service next weekend.

Gene Galat was, is, and always will be my hero, my measure, and my dad. He's in a far, far better place. I pray that I can honor his legacy of honesty, hard work, and love.

I know you better than many here, and I am better for the experience. As such, I can tell you that you are cutting a pretty impressive swath through the world yourself. I am sorry that I am not back in Peoria to offer more than my and my families heartfelt condolences. 

Stan;

Such sad news. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Stan,

My condolences.  I only know you thru reading your posts, but it is evident that you are a smart, hard working and solid guy.  I have found that most of the time those qualities start with the folks that raised us.   I can relate to losing your dad and l am sure you will have some tough times ahead.  It seemed to me to be the insignificant things that I miss the most.  But the memories are great and the influence that dads have in our families are immeasurable.

Prayers for you and your family. 

James

PANCREATIC is a tough hill to climb for even the strongest will.....may he rest in peace and I'm sure the memories and his legacy will stay with you and family. Sincere condolences to you and family.

Having just returned from the doctor's office where he removed yet another cancerous lesion from my 93 year old father's sun loving bald head....I feel your pain, I see what's coming.

You are blessed to have had the relationship that you did with your father. Prayers heading up right now covering the whole Stan-family.

Condolences to you, Stan. And best to your family on the loss of your dad. And, well, congratulations on picking such a good one. 

"I built another house while dad was on chemo, and he did the plumbing."

Epic. 

My condolences to you and your family Stan.  I too only know you through your posts as I am a newbie to the forum.  I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer a few years back within only a few weeks notice.  We cherished every day.  It's quick moving and tough to beat.  Sounds like he was a strong man and you had some great times and memories made even after his diagnosis. He will always be with you!

Terribly sorry about your dad. Your dad and his generation should inspire all of us through work ethic, generosity and thoughtfulness (to name a few).  

Our thoughts are with you and your family. 

Stan, some things our minds are not capable of imagining - the concept of infinite space or time, or what life might be like, deprived of all senses.

Losing someone who has always been an essential part of our life can be like that. We think we knew everything there was to know about them, but we may only just begin to discover what they meant to us when they are no more.

Coping with this feeling of being lost is probably the most bewildering thing I've had to work through. I've found myself rethinking questions I thought I knew the answers to. Who are we? Where do we end and where do our loved ones begin? Spooky, troubling, existential questions.

Somehow, we muddle through. Eventually, we get on with our lives. The unanswerable questions recede and we get back to simpler things. We fix the plumbing. We worry about who has the best price for ground beef this week.

We will never be quite whole again. Our smile might be permanently changed. But we will be somehow a bit wiser for having weathered this storm.

Has life merely taught us another lesson? Or, do we inherit the wisdom from our departed mentor?

 My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Stan. Damn cancer took both my parents and tried to take our grandson too. 

 It's a terrible situation to have to fight the fight, but it sounds like your dad (and you) made the best of it. God bless.

 Bill

So sorry Stan.

-=theron

Stan,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I carry this passage around with me daily and thought I would share.

Be strong and courageous ;do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua1:9

Peace

I find this entire thread very, very humbling. This is a thread devoted to a man nobody here knew, who thought the entire idea of toy cars was kind of a frivolous waste. But you have rightly determined that it was Dad who made me who I am-- and by that knowing me to some extent, you've met him. That you care is amazing. You guys are truly gentlemen, and it's my pleasure to call you friends.

We had a small, intensely personal and meaningful family service at the graveside yesterday, where we prayed, sang hymns, read scripture, and shared remembrances of Dad. We lowered him into the ground, and buried him ourselves. We were all there: Mom, my sister's family, and mine. All of our kids and their spouses, and a couple of my gandkids were there and spoke as well. Afterward, we had the "homecoming" party Dad had wanted us to have.

The big services will be next weekend-- visitation on Friday, funeral on Saturday. I wrote his obit, which will be running Wed. and Thurs., but here's what it will say:

TREMONT- On February 1, 2018, Eugene R. Galat (76), after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, passed from this life to the next, surrounded by his wife of 55 years and three generations of family who loved and were loved by him.

Born October 13, 1941 in Barberton, OH, Gene was the 12^th of the 16 children of John and Anna Galat. He married Joyce Marie Meyer on January 6, 1963 in Tremont. He is survived by his wife, his son Stan (Jeanie) Galat, his daughter Karen (Kurt) Riggenbach, 5 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. His parents, 5 siblings, and a precious granddaughter preceded him in death. He will be sorely missed by all those he left.

Gene was a loving and devoted servant of Jesus for nearly 60 years, and a tireless worker for the kingdom of Christ in every part of the world. He made his home at Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont.

He was a plumbing contractor and builder his entire adult life. He was an vigorous champion of the underdog, and led countless mission outreaches and projects for the underprivileged, both at home and abroad. The drive, energy, and enthusiasm he brought to every endeavor is the stuff of legend.

Gene lived every day of his life completely and fully. He was determined to help anybody, in any way he could, at any time of need. He cut an enormous swath through this world and will be remembered as leaving nothing but good things in his wake. Gene would never have wanted these things to be said (much less published) if he was still with us. Those he left behind do not care, because he taught us to tell the truth, no matter what anyone else might think. He really was “all that” and more.

The family invites the community to join in a celebration of his life on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at 11:00 AM. The family will receive visitors the evening before (February 9, 2018) from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Both the visitation and the memorial service will be at Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont.

I held his hand and prayed with him and the entire family as he shed the mortal coil, and passed into eternity. I'm going to miss him horribly, but he's in a far, far better place.

Godspeed, Gene Galat.

Rest in knowing your dad made the world a better place.

That is a beautiful tribute, Stan.  I suppose many of us - knowing you through this site, and knowing the kind of person you are - we also knew your father, and the type of man he was. 

Hold his memory dear, and be thankful for having been so close to him.

Stan Galat posted:

 

Gene was a loving and devoted servant of Jesus for nearly 60 years, and a tireless worker for the kingdom of Christ in every part of the world. He made his home at Northfield Christian Fellowship in Tremont.

 

Godspeed, Gene Galat.

 

That's all I need to know. He is indeed in a better place. 

John 14:3

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me you also may be where I am."

Stan, while I expressed my condolences briefly in another forum the information you shared above made me feel the need to speak further.  You and I had some interesting conversations regarding spiritual beliefs while in the mountains last fall but I believe that we agree more than we disagree.  The obituary for your father describes to me what it truly means to be a Christian and a spiritual man.  You are right that the world has suffered a loss, but I saw enough of your father in our meeting last September to know that his legacy lives on in you.   I am sure that he is very proud of who you are.

I lost my father 31 years ago, but I think of him almost daily and I am convinced that he still guides me when I need a nudge.  You will feel your father's presence from time to time.  Rejoice in those moments.  You'll see him again.

Hey Stan.  My dad's name was also Eugene.  Eugene Samuel Luebbert.  But he didn't go by Gene.  He went by Sam.  I too wrote my dad's eulogy.  My son Sam, his namesake, read the eulogy at his funeral.  My father was also very religious never without a crucifix worn proudly around his neck.  I hope they get a chance to meet in heaven.

Stan, sorry for you and your family's loss. Reading your posts displayed not only a father son relationship but something much deeper.   Thank God for those special times together. God bless.....

Stan,

My condolence and prayers for you and your family.  May god give you the strength to make it through. 

My dad had same cancer in 2001 and we only had 6 weeks with him. 

Tom L.

Stan,   I think most of us know your dad and his presence by simply having known you.....   your dedication and abilities.....  He will be with you, never fear....    My .02  

So sorry for your loss , Stan.  When I was a little kid and someone in the family passed away, my Grandmother used to say ," They're never really gone if you think of them every day."   There will be a lot of people thinking of your Dad every day.

Stan, your dad lives on, in you. He'll be with you every day. Peace to you and all yours, my friend.

It's times like this that I wonder what battle God is preparing for so much that He had to call home such a formidable warrior.